by Mia Ford
For us.
Our love story come full circle.
EPILOGUE – ADDISON
One Year Later…
“I cannot believe that I thought it would be better to get married after Edward was born,” I grumble to Luci. “It’s been exhausting. I didn’t know how hard motherhood would be.”
“It might be hard, but little Edward is so sweet, he’s worth it.”
I laugh and nod. “I know, Auntie Luci, it’s obvious how much you love him, but you aren’t up every night at three AM.” But then my heart melts and I remember how adorable my boy is. “But you’re right.”
She tightens my dress around me and steps back to run her eyes up and down me. “You look gorgeous. This is such a lovely dress. I wasn’t too sure at first, but it’s perfect for this. A lovely wedding on the beach… you don’t want a full on dress to the floor for that, do you? It’ll get all sandy.”
My dress is pure white and knee length. Elegant and simple, just what I wanted. Luci might have wanted me to get a princess style poofy over the top number, but that just isn’t me.
“Is it going to be weird with your parents here?” she asks cautiously.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I didn’t think that they’d come when I invited them, it was more of a formality. But they are here, so let’s see what happens. It might be the start of rebuilding that bond.”
“They will get to know Edward as well. And since you’re staying here for your honeymoon to live your fantasy life for a week, you might get some space with extra babysitters. You can do whatever you want.” She winks cheekily, suggesting we’ll spend most of the time in bed… which is true. “You could even finish your novel.”
I don’t want to think about my novel right now. That’s work, where I want my career to go, this is fun.
“I don’t know if they will be up for that, but we’ll see. We have Felicia for that anyway, and you, we will be fine. I’m not too worried.” I shake my head hard. “I don’t want to think about them anyway. I don’t want to stress out and worry about anything. I just want to enjoy my day.”
“Yes, exactly. Don’t worry about them, just worry about your new husband.”
“Oh wow, husband, that sounds weird, doesn’t it? I’m going to have a husband, and be a wife.”
Luci laughs. “Better get used to it, baby. It’s too late to back out now… or is it?”
She makes me laugh. I know that she doesn’t mean it. She loves Jace and me together now. She’s seen what an amazing partner and father he’s been over the last year. He really has proven himself. Especially since he pretty much planned this wedding all himself. Luci helped him more than I did.
“Shut up, you know it is. In fact…” I glance at my watch. “I think it’s time to go. Shall we?”
Luci takes my arm and we exit the lovely cottage that Jace and I will be staying in during our time here, and we head towards the beach. The nearer we get, the more of my family that I can see there, my old family and new. My parents are standing awkwardly near Felicia, looking at Edward like they really want to get to know him. But of course, he’s one now, he knows who he knows, and he doesn’t know them. That’s their own fault.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with our relationship next, but this is a start. It might go nowhere, but it could turn out amazing. Who the hell knows? I’m just going to see what happens.
I turn my eyes away from everyone else and focus just on my husband-to-be. He’s in a suit again, looking his best, in the way that I love the most. My heart skips about ten beats and I can’t stop beaming. I’m so happy. All the times I fantasized about this moment and all the times I thought it wouldn’t happen, yet here we are, having our dream wedding. Him and me, finally solidifying our love for one another.
“He looks so happy, doesn’t he?” Luci whispers beside me. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“I think he does. And even if he doesn’t you’ll remind him all the time, right?”
“Of course I will.” She bangs her hip against mine. “You know I won’t let him forget.”
We walk across the sand until we reach the archway which has been set up specifically for us. It’s decorated with pale pink flowers all the way up it, and it looks beautiful. Jace has done a wonderful job. I love him even more than I ever have before. I’m the one who’s lucky, I get to keep him.
“You look phenomenal,” he gushes as he takes my hand. “Do I seriously get to marry you today?”
“You do, and then we get to have a party, after which, you’ll take me back to our cottage and tear this dress off of me.” I lean in closer. “I brought special underwear for tonight, and I can’t wait to show you.”
The silk brushes against my skin and sends a shiver up my spine. Staring into his eyes, seeing the lust there behind his gaze, makes me wish we could be there right now…
“Well, before that, we’re going to have to get married. Should we bother squeezing that in first?”
I pretend that I need to think about this before answering. “Okay, I guess we have time.”
He takes my hand in his, leading me towards the officiant who will speak out the traditional wedding words for us. Then, we’ll say our vows and become husband and wife, heading one step closer to our happy ever after. Jace, Edward, and me too. My amazing little family, forever.
Once this man was my college boyfriend, then a stranger to me in a rock band. He crashed back into my life in the weirdest way possible, but somehow it worked. Not at first, of course. We faced our issues, but now, we have it all. It’s just amazing.
“Hello there, Mrs. Fairs,” Jace purrs as we crash into our cottage, finally alone again. “Finally, I get to see that underwear of yours. I have been thinking about it all day long. It was very distracting, you know.”
I giggle and toss my head back in ecstasy as he peels my dress off. “I am sorry, that wasn’t my intention.”
“Of course not.” His lips crash against my bare shoulder and he starts kissing me all over. “That’s why you were giving me those sexy little looks all day long. It took everything that I had just to behave myself.”
He lifts me up and places my butt on the kitchen table, before leaning across me and unhooking my bra. The wedding was amazing, the after party incredible too, but this is already my favorite part of the day. Felicia and my parents are looking after Edward together, giving him a chance to get used to them which will be good if they become as involved as they have promised to be, not that I’m holding out too much hope, so Jace and I have the night all to ourselves to do whatever we want.
And right now, with his hands all over my body, this is everything that I want and more. He isn’t the only one who’s been distracted all day long. I have been yearning desperately for this moment ever since I said ‘I do’.
“So, Mr. Fairs… what do you intend to do with me now that we’re alone?”
He lifts my butt off the table just for long enough to tear my panties down. I crash back and immediately feel his tongue between my legs, licking me all over. He’s answering my question without saying a damn word.
“Oh wow, this feels…” I let my head loll to one side and I grip on to the table so hard my knuckles go white. “That’s amazing, oh my god, Jace, you’re too much for me.”
I feel him laugh, it vibrates all the way through my core, leaving me absolutely breathless. My veins begin heating up, my muscles preparing themselves for the onslaught of pleasure that’s about to come. As his mouth sets my body alight and sends me spinning through the clouds, I just know that this honeymoon, and the marriage that will follow, will be amazing. Jace and I have been through enough troubles to last a lifetime, and we have overcome them all. I don’t think there’s a damn thing that the world can toss our way now that would cause us any issues. We’ve finally made it to a place where we’re stronger than ever.
As his tongue brings me right to the edge, I know that I’m exactly where I need to be, living my very own dream.
I have my rock star, I have my lovely, sweet, romantic husband, I have my happy ever after.
Finally, I have it all…
35
SNEAK PEAK: BROKEN
Blurb
I had chosen the mountains for a reason.
I was convinced that any human connection was a black hole.
Yet, this girl made me want to take that leap all over again and I couldn’t figure out why.
C arrie is a college student, looking for adventure in the North Carolina mountains. She thinks she has everything planned out and is excited about her trip, though little does she know that she has no idea what this trip will entail.
J ohnathan lives alone in the mountainside. He is a loner, who has written off humanity, but when his path ends up crossing with a woman who needs his help, he will have to force himself to rekindle a sense of decency, at least for the woman, if not for anyone else.
However, things take an unexpected turn when the two starts to enjoy each other’s company and that company eventually heats up.
C an Carrie help Johnathan break through his trust issues to regain his life and carry on within normal society?
OR Is this simply a fling for two people brought together by unlikely circumstances?
Chapter 1: Carrie
I couldn’t believe that the day was finally here! I had planned this trip for so long, it seemed to take forever for time to finally catch up to my bustling excitement. I sauntered around the house, quickly making my last round, to ensure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
Kasandra, my roommate, who was also my best friend, sat on the couch and scoffed at me, each time I passed her. I didn’t know what she was so concerned with, since she had the weekend to herself. I was sure she was going to have her boyfriend over and they were going to perform unmentionable acts all over the apartment, while I was using my hiatus from school to get back to nature.
Yet, being that she was the opposite of me in this regard, I guessed I shouldn’t be so surprised.
Kasandra wore her emotions on her face and everyone knew exactly what she was thinking, without her having to say a word.
At times, especially growing up, this trait got her into a lot of trouble, while I was roped in most of the time, simply because I was guilty by association.
Now that we were adults, though, this talent was useful.
I, on the other hand, was quiet, resourceful and a pacifist. I would do anything to avoid a fight, while Kasandra had accepted she couldn’t hide her emotions. Therefore, she seemed to always be ready for a fight.
Right now, however, her glare of disapproval was lessened slightly by her strained, cheerful tone, “So, why are you excited about this trip again? Please tell me you’re going to do more than hike.”
“Nope,” I insisted as I reached for the last few things I felt I would need on my journey. “I’m going to be spending the week in the mountains, enjoying the clean, fresh air. I want to clear my head before classes start again.”
“Why don’t you just go to the spa, like a normal person?”
I laughed, knowing that strangely enough, Kasandra was trying to be nice, even though it didn’t sound like it.
“Because, it’s not the same,” I insisted, hoping she didn’t see through my carefully constructed plan.
“Yeah, that’s my point, it’s a lot more fun, relaxing…and safer. If you want to work up a sweat, go in a sauna.”
“Kas, are you worried about me?” I retorted in a joking tone, which made my friend scowl as she shook her head, though her expression still gave her away quite apparently.
“No, it’s just a stupid idea,” she answered, somewhat defensively.
“I know you think so,” I replied, refusing to let her ruin my excitement.
“I mean, why a mountain? Why that mountain?” She insisted, getting into questions that I didn’t want to answer.
I sighed, again refusing to allow her to douse the passion I had regarding this trip, “I respect that it isn’t your thing but please respect that it’s mine.”
“Just be careful, is all,” she hissed, “I know that it’s your thing and whatever. That’s not the stupid part.”
“Well, if you’re so worried about it, why don’t you come with me?”
I knew she wasn’t going to, but to keep the conversation fluid and away from the secret truth behind my trip, I needed to ask her, so she didn’t get suspicious.
If I had it my way, she would never figure out the true reason I went on this trip. If she did, I would likely never hear the end of it and that was the last thing I needed.
Again, Kasandra scoffed, “I’m not that worried about you,” she retorted with a snide laugh.
However, I brushed off the warning, considering where it was coming from. After all, Kasandra was a city girl and could never understand the intrigue and the beauty of nature.
She simply thought it was gross and dirty; which was why this ended up being the perfect place for my trip. If it was anywhere else, besides hiking or otherwise dirty outdoors, she might actually want to come along, and I couldn’t have that.
I needed to this myself. There was no other way for me to find the peace that I sought.
I rolled my eyes, “Goodbye,” I grumbled as I grabbed my pack. “I’ll be back in a week,” I insisted, slinging the pack over my shoulder.
I left before Kasandra could succeed in putting any doubt in my head about taking this trip. After all, I had to meet my guide at the foothills of the mountain range and after waiting so long to go on this trip, I didn’t want to be late.
“Seriously, though!” I heard Kasandra scream from behind the closed door, “Be careful! Don’t get eaten by wolves!”
“Bye!” I called again, trying to stifle my amusement as I rolled my eyes. I shook my head and started the trek downstairs.
This is gonna be great! I assured myself confidently, pushing forward, toward my car, ready to start my adventure.
The ride to the foothills of the mountain seemed to take forever but eventually, I found myself gazing up at a majestic scene of wildlife and reverent nature. The air was already thinner. I could feel it withering as I inhaled it, already, but I was prepared for this.
Despite what everyone who was closest to me either genuinely seemed to think, or preferred to believe, this wasn’t my first time in the mountains.
Granted, the last time was a while ago, but I certainly didn’t think that disqualified my experience.
I had survived the first time, and I liked to think that I had garnered intelligence with age, so I should be fine this time as well.
After all, it wasn’t like I was dumb enough to go up there all alone. I had hired a guide and I had no intention of doing anything dangerous. I was taking this trip to enjoy nature and let go of the stress my life had placed upon me in the last year. I wasn’t intending to be consumed by it.
Sure, perhaps my idea to trek the mountain alone, with only a guide wasn’t the best plan but I didn’t have anyone else to go with and I wasn’t going to forgo this opportunity because I was afraid of a little adventure.
Everyone who knew me was as certain of that as I was, so despite Kasandra’s attempts to get me to do something else to relax, no one else had wasted much time trying to talk me out of it.
However, when I saw the man I would soon learn was my guide pull up next to my car in a beat-up truck, looking less than savory, I hoped to God the first impression was inaccurate.
While I didn’t have anything against pickup trucks, or anyone in particular, the strange feeling that plagued me the moment the truck pulled up had me instantly regretting my decision.
I should’ve gone for the more expensive guide… I thought immediately, though I still hoped this wasn’t as bad a decision as it now appeared to be.
It wasn’t that this guide was cheap; he was simply the cheapest. At the time, I had also thought I was getting a good deal, instead of a cheap deal, since this was a little bit of a downtime for the mounta
in. It was usually hot, so people didn’t like to hike, and it was right at the cusp of the changeover, when the leaves started their fall foliage display, so I thought I might simply be getting a discounted rate.
However, as I gazed upon the man I was supposed to be spending the next week with, I couldn’t help but think I was going to receive a discounted experience too.
The man who hopped out of the truck was tall, lanky, and unshaven. His hair looked as though it had never met a brush and his shirt was stained. His jeans were torn at the bottom and his boots looked far too worn out to be acceptable for the hiking trip.
He looked more like someone I would see living in the mountains, instead of a guide, who was supposed to be well-respected people within the mountain community.
Although, I was determined not to let anything spoil this trip for me, so when he walked toward me, I spoke first in the friendliest voice I could muster.
“Hi! Are you Mitch?”
“Yep,” the man replied, barely looking at me as he dug in the back of his mud-stained, rusty truck bed, pulling up a raggedy pack that didn’t look near full enough for a week’s hike.
Still, there was a possibility he was a minimalist; it sure would explain his attire and first impression; one of the few explanations that wouldn’t want to make me take off in the other direction.
“You Katy?” Mitch looked at me strangely as he turned around and slipped the pack over his shoulder.
“Um…Carrie,” I corrected in a gentle voice, trying not to come across as a bitch, considering the amount of time we about to be spending together. However, I couldn’t quite help but narrow my eyes at the empty beer bottles that were rolling around in the back of the truck, disturbed by the man grabbing the pack.
“Oh…Carrie. Right,” he responded as his eyes obviously tracing over my body in a strange, slightly revolting manner. “Oh…Don’t you worry about that…” Mitch added as he finally returned his gaze to my eyes and saw that I was looking at the remnants of booze, “Just the remainders of a good memory…From over the weekend. I’ve gotta clean this old girl out…”
